Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-11
NATIONAL SEED SHOP,
The Argument OF An Agricultural Paper
Against Seed DistrlbutIoa.
American Rural Home.

Al lle recent meeting OF the Western
New York Horticultural Society strong
resolutions were introduced 0y Mr.. J. S.
woodward, who has been elected score
tarY of the New York State Agricultural
Society, condemning the methods of dis
tributing seeds by the Department of Ag-
riculture at Washington. The resolutio
reads as follows:
"ResolVed, that we regard the annual
distribution of seeds and plants BY the
Department of Agriculture at Wishing
ton as 4 great waste Of the peoples
money, az insult to the people to whom
sent, disgrace TO the nation, and we de.
maud that it be abolished, or at least no
longer be done in the name of sgri-
culture"
This IS pretty strong Indictment Of
the practice. Whether the authOr of the
resolutions would condemn the principle
Of distributing seeds by The general gov
eminent, or simply the methods en-
ployed, We cannot say, but we would OPP
pose both the principle and the way in
which the law is carried out. We believe
that 1t IS the exercise of powers not con-
ferreG upon the government by the peO-
pie, and tnat the way in which the Isw is
executed renders it q detriment rather
than benefit 70 those who are the recip-
tents of seeds.
a great many people are urging cur
government to do what it has no right 10
do; TO engage ia business for the benefit
OF the people; TO assume and exercise the
functions of paternal government. Such
people in our opinion, forget the true
theory Of Democratic government. Au-
tOCratic governments claim to exist bv
Divine right and authority CON
ferr5d by the Supreme RIIer uoon
some ancestor, and descending by IN
heritance 10 certain members of the rUysl
family. Hence, for the people 10 elect IL
ruler would be in opposition to the DI-
vine will and law, would be wicked and
sacriligiOus. The ruler thus endowed
with sovereignty may enact such laws as
he thinks best. He Is the secular father
Of the people, and, while he has a righ
to their time and service, and tven their
lives, if necessary, he may also engage in
enterprises to benefit his subjects
In democracy, or repuyhC, such as
ours, we hold that sovereignty is confer
RED by the Creator directly upon the indi-
viduaI. That the Individual has the right
to lie, liberty, property, and the right to
use his powers and possessions in the
way he thinks will best promote
his happiness, providing that in
doing so he does not infringe upon
the equal rights of others. In forming q
republican government these equal sever
eigns organize cad choose, presumably,
some of the Wise>t aud best among them
to enact laws to protect the people in the
enjoyment Of their natural rights against
anyone, within or without the republic,
who might be disposed to violate them.
These sOvereigns also choose men to exc
cute or enforce the laws enacted for their
protection.
To compensate tie enaCtors and ex-
eCutOrs of the laws tor their protection,
the people consent to relinquish the SOW
ereign COntECl of so much of their prop
erty as may be necessary to that end,
and contribute of their means in proper
ton to the protection enjoyed. If the
representatives Of the people exact, in
the form OF taxes, more of the earnings of
the people than is necessary for the
economical administration Of a Just and
wise government, they uSurp powers not
belonging to them, become unjust and
tyrannICsI.
So long as government limits its func-
tons to the simple matter Of protection
against the laW.ess and disorderly, in So
ciety, Or against invasion from without, it
IS much more likely to meet out equal and
exact Justice to all than if it should ex-
coed it's Just powers Of protecting ana at
tempt to promote aud foster the interests
Of q portion of the people at the expense
Of all. When government attempts 10
transact the business of the people, it IS
very apt to take the earnings OF portion
Of the people for the benefit of another
portion, III violation of the sacred rights
Of property, and ct the same time it be-
comes & competitor with the people in
hat very business.
Let US take FOR illustration, one of tie
east Objectionable and most benefcent
Of all the kinds Of business in which our
government is engaged, that CT the trans
mission OF letters, papers, etc. Ia that |
guinness she takes of people in the more
,hiCklY settled portions more than double |
he cost of carrying their mails, that mails !
nay be carried 10 the more sp2rsely !
settled portions where the cost of |
transmission several times exceeds the !
mounts received. There is little doubt /
hat cent an ounce would be ample !
for carrying letters in the !
more densely populated portions Of our
country. Ii 50, whatever more is CX-
.Cted is Injustice, is robbery. We do not
ay thGt we would abolish the POstOfiiCe
Department of government, we simply re-
CT TO it to show how one Of the most
,eEefcent, paternal operations Of the
,eneral government works injustice to
he Individual
Let Us take the practice denounced il
he resolution passed by the Horticultural
ociety. The government takes the
money Of the people to buy seeds for 8
orion Of the people. We have iadiyid-
als, il every part of the country, en-
aged in the very laudable business Of
aising, buying and importing seeds, put
ug them up in packages, large and
mall, and selling them to farmers and
ardeners. Seeds of grain, seeds of veg
tables, seeds of fruits and seeds Of
overs are distributed wherever wanted
= these enterprising seedmen. So far
government enters into the business
distributing seeds she becomes q com
etitor with private enterprise, and does
Justice to those citizens who have en-
trked their money, time ard energies in
lie business.
We suppose the original intention Of
e law providing for seed distribution
as to introduce from foreign countries
re seeds and plants, aad place them il
e hands OF those farmers or gardeners
difftreit localities who would
irly test them, ard report re-
Its to the department at Washing
n. If such were the fact, the design
the law was less Objectionable than rs
cent methods Of execution. Yet, We
ink, there Is no necessity for justifca-
IN Of the law, now, even though it should
restored ID its original purpOse.